Inside Assad’s surveillance state: leaked files show how spy network spread fear in Syria – The Irish Times

​​12/5/2025 – Accounts from leaked intelligence reveal how Syria’s security services under Bashar al-Assad relied on coerced local reporting and constant surveillance to control civilians. Officials were compelled to provide political assessments that shaped arrests, travel bans, and access to jobs or services. The documents also show how monitoring of family ties and contacts abroad created ongoing risks for Syrians in exile by exposing relatives at home to pressure and punishment.

Inside Assad's surveillance state: leaked files show how spy network spread fear in Syria